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Looking for some fun and exciting things to do in Salzburg? We’ve got you covered!
Salzburg isn’t the first place on most people’s lists when planning a trip to Europe, and I think that’s a real shame. Known as the birthplace of Mozart and the backdrop for The Sound of Music, it’s a dream destination – we can’t get enough of this place!
There’s no shortage of great things to do here, so to help you out, we’ve narrowed it down to the top experiences that you can’t miss.
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE activity is this Sound of Muisc tour. We got to visit iconic film locations, such as the gazebo in Hellbrunn Castle, and learn the history of this real-life story.
Check out the 3,500+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Tip: This tour is popular – book it here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you take off!
Things to do in Salzburg, Austria
1. Visit the film locations from “The Sound of Music”
- Price: €65
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 9:15 am or 2 pm
- Highlights: Visit the Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg, head outside the city to the stunning Lake District and the town of Mondsee, learn about Salzburg and the real-life Von Trapps, sing along to the soundtrack with other fans
- Inclusions: Air-conditioned transportation, knowledgeable guide
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check out the 4,800+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
Calling all Sound of Music fans! Do yourself a favor and put this amazing Sound of Music tour right at the top of your Salzburg bucket list!
If I’m being completely honest, the main reason I initially wanted to visit Salzburg is because it’s where The Sound of Music was filmed. I grew up watching this film every Christmas and know all of the songs from start to finish. So Dan wasn’t surprised when I told him we had to go on this tour to check out the filming locations.
Anyone who has seen this classic movie before knows just how beautiful the settings are in the film. And it looks exactly like that in real life! From the stunning Mirabell Gardens where “Do-Re-Mi” was shot, to the iconic gazebo in Hellbrunn Castle where “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” was filmed, it felt like I was transported right into the movie!
Even though this tour was set around The Sound of Music filming locations, we also got to see a lot of Salzburg and its surrounding areas while we were at it. We saw some top highlights like Austria’s beautiful Lake District and the charming town of Mondsee (where Maria and Baron von Trapp got married!).
Honestly, this tour was one of the best things we did in Austria. I had so much fun belting out “My Favorite Things” and the rest of the soundtrack with a bunch of other fans. Plus, it only costs €65 – which I think is definitely worth it for all of the places you get to explore and the fun experience you get. If you’re still on the fence, just have a look at the thousands of 5-star reviews!
Reserve your spot on this popular tour here before it sells out!
2. Take a day trip to see the charming mountain town, Hallstatt
- Price: €75
- Duration: 5.5 hours
- Time: 8:15 am or 12 pm
- Highlights: Enjoy a comfortable and scenic drive to the Salzkammergut region, spend 2.5 hours exploring Hallstatt, opt to do the Skywalk or visit the Hallstatt Ossuary
- Inclusions: Coach transportation from Salzburg, professional guide
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check out the 700+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
Hallstatt is a picturesque village nestled on the shores of Lake Hallstatt in Austria’s Salzkammergut region. It looks like it was pulled straight out of a fairytale and is a must-see for anyone visiting Austria!
If you don’t have a lot of time to spare, we recommend visiting Hallstatt on this half-day tour from Salzburg. You will drive 1.5 hours out of the city to this stunning region, taking in views of the towering mountains as you pass by.
Once you get to Hallstatt you will have 2.5 hours to explore as you please. I recommend going up the funicular and doing the Skywalk on a clear day. It’s a viewing platform suspended 350 meters (1148 ft) in the air with unbelievable views of the surrounding lake and mountains.
Alternatively, you can visit the famous Hallstatt Ossuary, which houses over 1,000 human skulls – the largest collection in the world! Or you can choose to simply walk along the beautiful streets of Hallstatt, checking out the charming cafes and shops.
Whatever you decide to do here, we know you won’t regret taking some time to visit this town – I think it’s one of the most scenic places in the world (and I’ve seen a lot!)
Read the hundreds of 5-star reviews and book your spot here!
3. Explore the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines
- Price: €75
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 8:45 am or 2 pm
- Highlights: Explore the Berchtesgaden underground salt mines via train, slides, and rafts, learn about salt mining and its history, visit a town in Germany with free time to eat and explore
- Inclusions: Professional guide, skip-the-line entrance, air-conditioned transportation
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check out the 400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We’ve already mentioned some great things to do in Salzburg above ground, but how about heading below ground on this tour of the Berchtesgaden salt mines for a completely different experience?
Located just outside of Salzburg in nearby Berchtesgaden, Germany are some of the oldest salt mines in the world. These deep mining caves have been used for over 450 years, and continue to produce salt to this day. But they also offer a fun tourist experience!
On this half-day tour to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines, you will suit up in mining gear and head deep underground to explore. We took an underground train ride through the subterranean tunnels and even slid down slides within the mines to get to lower levels – it was so much fun!
The highlight of the tour for me was when we went across the underground “Mirror Lake” on a raft. Floating on an underground lake was a first for me – and something I’ll never forget!
As fun as this tour is, it was also super interesting. I enjoyed learning about the salt mining process from our guide. We also got to visit the town of Berchtesgaden at the end of the tour for some free time. Plus, Berchtesgaden is actually in Germany, so you can check another country off your list while you’re at it!
We think this is the perfect rainy day activity in Salzburg. It’s also super family friendly and any age can participate. The kids on our tour were having so much fun going down the slides! The tour runs twice daily and is very popular (look at all of the 5-star reviews!), so make sure you book in advance so you don’t miss out!
Book this tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. See a Mozart concert at the Salzburg Fortress
- Price: €76 – €122
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Time: 6 pm
- Highlights: Take the cable car up to the historic Salzburg Fortress, have dinner with views over the city, enjoy a live concert playing Mozart’s best music
- Inclusions: Roundtrip Fortress funicular tickets, dinner, Best of Mozart concert
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check out the 400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
If you’re looking for the perfect date night activity in Salzburg, this romantic dinner and Mozart concert at the Fortress is a great choice!
The evening starts with a funicular ride up to Salzburg Fortress. Built in 1077, this massive medieval castle towers over the city up on Festungsberg Hill. You will get to enjoy incredible panoramic views while eating a delicious Austrian dinner – and having a glass of wine or two of course!
But after dinner, the real fun begins. The historical rooms of the fortress come to life with Mozart’s best compositions played by internationally renowned soloists. Mozart was actually born in Salzburg, so it was such a neat experience hearing his music played here!
There are a few different ticket options for this experience depending on where you want to sit and what you want to eat. The regular dinner experience starts at €76, or you can upgrade to the VIP dinner which includes a glass of wine and premium concert seating for €98. If you want a super luxurious experience you can opt for the Golden VIP package, which includes dinner on the panoramic terrace, a bottle of wine, a glass of sparkling wine during the concert break, and premium seating for €122 per person.
No matter what option you choose, I am confident you will enjoy this magical evening of food, history, music, and culture!
Read more about the ticket options and reserve your spot here!
5. Learn about Salzburg on a private walking tour
- Price: €25 – €747
- Duration: 2 to 6 hours
- Time: Multiple departure times throughout the day
- Highlights: Walk through the beautiful streets of Salzburg with a private guide, visit top attractions and learn about the city’s history and culture
- Inclusions: Private guide, tour through Salzburg, hotel pick-up, free entry to the Mirabell Garden, entrance to other attractions based on tour option selected
- Rating: 5 stars (check out the 50+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
If you’ve read some of our other posts, I’m sure you already know how much we LOVE walking tours, and this private walking tour of Salzburg is no exception!
We had so much fun walking through Salzburg with our own private guide. We learned a lot about the city that we never would have found out had we been on our own. We also saw many of the city’s top highlights including Mozart’s birthplace and the stunning Salzburg Cathedral.
What we really love most about this tour is how flexible it is. Depending on how much time you have and what you want to see, you can choose a tour between 2 to 6 hours in length. We did the 4-hour tour and loved it so much that we wish we’d done the full 6-hour tour instead!
If you have limited time here and want a great overview of the city, we recommend at least fitting the 2-hour tour into your schedule when you first arrive. But if you have some more time we highly recommend doing one of the more comprehensive tours so that you don’t miss out on some of Salzburg’s most incredible sites – like Kollegienkirche and the Fortress!
The price ranges quite a bit for this tour depending on the duration you choose and the amount of people in your group. The tours also run every day at multiple times making it super easy to add to a busy itinerary!
Check out the tour options and prices for this private tour here!
Where to Stay in Salzburg, Austria
Salzburg might be a relatively small city, but it’s certainly not lacking in great places to stay! You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to historic hotels, luxury stays, or something with a moderate budget. Here are my top three recommendations:
Luxury – $$$
Hotel Schloss Mönchstein is a fantastic luxury option, situated on a hill overlooking Salzburg’s stunning scenery. The rooms are elegant and furnished with ornate antiques, and you can book a king room or suite style rooms. I especially love the onsite spa, outdoor infinity pool, or indoor hot tub for those cold winter days!
This hotel is a short walk from the Old Town. Rooms start at €450 and can be booked on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
Hotel Scherer is a family run hotel in a charming historic building. It’s a short walk from the Old Town area, so it’s a nice quiet stay and they have bicycles to rent. The rooms are modern and simple, but provide everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Prices start around €120 per night and can be reserved on Booking.com.
Budget – $
The Keep Eco Rooms is an eco-friendly hostel with rooms for up to three people. I love the unique style, the rooms are clean, and every room has a bathroom, some have a balcony too. The hotel is located in Central Salzburg, so you’re close to all the main sights.
Rooms are available starting at €80 and can be reserved on Booking.com.
For more options, check out all the hotels in Salzburg here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
Salzburg, Austria is such a unique place to visit! Whether you’re a Sound of Music fan, love history, or charming mountain towns, you’ll find plenty to do here.
If you found this post helpful, be sure to check out our other travel guides. We’ve been all over the world and love sharing our favorite experiences and best travel tips with others. Here are a few other travel guides that might be helpful. Cheers!
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